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Hanrahan: Is Wall hitting the wall?
Saturday December 11, 2010 9:03 a.m.
By Frank Hanrahan
CSNwashington.com
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When things are going well for Wizards rookie guard John Wall, he's flying by defenders, hitting tough shots, stroking three pointers and igniting the home crowd with his energy and more often than not the Wizards are in the win column. When he's struggling with a foot injury and his shot, Wall's energy is noticeably lower and the Wizards so reliant on Wall for juice, usually won't win when he's not switched on. The latter was the case last night as Wall struggled to find his mojo in the 101-95 loss to the Knicks.
The end to end attacking speed wasn't there and neither was the jump shot for Wall who returned from injury against New York but clearly was still bothered by sore foot that forced him to miss the Kings game on Wednesday. Wall acknowledged it was difficult to know what he was capable of doing but physically just not ready to do it yet. "That's really tough, I feel like at times I can't really blow past people like I want to or finish at the basket or do certain things I'm used to doing, I don't have the same ability to do all the things I was doing before," Wall said.
Despite the foot issues, Wall refuses to use it as an excuse for his play. "I'm not blaming it all on my health you know I'm out there and trying to compete, I still have a little something left in me."
Wall finished 4-14 from the field for just 8 points and 6 assists a very modest night obviously for a guy who is one of the top scorers on the team at 17 points a game. Wizards coach Flip Saunders said after the game that when Wall's not hitting his shot his energy level dips. "He's exactly right," Wall said. "It takes all my momentum. I feel like it puts my confidence down."
As for the team now with a 6-16 record and losers of 4 straight, Wall still believes they can eventually turn this around. "We are a talented enough team there are just certain little things we do that doesn't help out. At times we don't rebound, at times we turn the ball over. It's the little things," Wall said.
